and the deficit and we ought to cut -- we ought to eliminate government programs. certainly there are government programs that are neither efficient, effective or necessary. and those, yes, those should be cut. but when you start talking about infrastructure, this is something that we really must do. it was said that for an expenditure of some $15 billion , new york city could have protected its subway system and the shoreline from the devastation of two major storms. one that occurred a year ago and another one that occurred just 97 days or three months ago, superstorm sandy. so if we get ahead of these disasters and build the necessary protections, for example, in my district, if we build those levees, yes, it will cost money, but in one area it's about $1 billion. very expensive. no doubt about it. but if we do not protect, do not build those levees, the devastation will amount to several times that amount of money. that's precisely what happened in manhattan and in the new york city area. so, again, you spend that money up front, yes, you put people to work, ye